ESS_Q's_and_A's.pdf

Engineering Services Support (ESS) Industry Day Dated 31 AUG 2016 Questions & Answers

1. Will a DCMA Approved purchasing system be required?

A DCMA approved purchasing system is not required. The Government requires an acceptable purchasing system as defined by DFARS 252.244-7001.

2. Will there be special SPIRNET, JWICs, or storage requirements at KTR facility?

The contractor will not be required to utilize JWIC facilities. The contractor will be required to meet security requirements as outlined in a Government DD254 Security and Classification document. The contractor will be required to comply with DFARS 252.204- 7012 “Safeguarding of unclassified controlled technical information”

3. Will there be weapons or platform tasking for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter?

Undetermined at this time; however, F-35 tasking is currently in process under the current contract.

4. Cyber Warfare Requirements? Addressed in Statement of Work (SOW) or Request For Proposal (RFP)?

Cyber Warfare Requirements will be addressed in the Statement of Work.

5. Will there be specific certifications required for Cyber Warfare tasking?

At this time there are no specific certifications for this tasking.

6. Will the SOW define the difference between cyber warfare and cyber security?

Yes Cybersecurity is a renaming of Information Assurance or IA, which is traditionally focused on TCP/IP networks and computers. Cyberwarfare is broader and includes IA but also includes both defensive and offensive cyber operations (ethical hacking), including non- TCP/IP network systems such as our platforms and weapons and associated datalinks, maintenance and test equipment. Cyber Risk Assessments or CRAs and penetration testing are also part of defensive cyber warfare. Very different skillsets: IA certs are nominally valuable when it comes to ethical hacking and penetration testing.

7. Will the contract be subject to wage rate determinations? Service Contract Act?

This contract is subject to the Service Contract Act and there are labor categories subject to wage rate determinations.

8. Will there be key personnel? If known, who will they be?

There will be key personnel specified in this contract. At this time, and subject to change, the Government anticipates the use of NAVAIRs Standard Labor categories in identifying the following key personnel.

Engineer/Scientist – Senior Subject Matter Expert Program Manager – Senior

9. Will the Government employ the use of a Draft RFP and if so what is the anticipated schedule?

It is both the Government’s desire and intent to issue a Draft RFP for comment by industry prior to release of a formal solicitation. Issuing a Draft RFP is subject to change and greatly affected by schedule.

10. Will the Government consider specifying a range in section M?

The Government is considering all options in developing evaluation requirements to level the playing field among offerors and establish a Best Value/Trade Off approach for contract evaluations.

11. How long is the Government’s travel approval process?

The Government’s approval process is typically 1 – 3 days and run through the Contracting Officers Representative (COR) team.

12. Are contractor facility costs reimbursable as an ODC or will that be absorbed in overhead?

Each company will need to assess their particular requirements, in accordance with Cost Accounting Standards, to determine whether their facility costs may be considered an ODC.

Facility costs are most often represented as General & Administrative (G&A) or in some cases as overhead.

13. Will the Government allow time for transition and may transition costs be reimbursable?

The Government is anticipating a transition period of 30 – 60 days, and the Government is actively reviewing the possibility of allowable transition costs for reimbursement. No further information is available at this time.

14. Is there a specific fee range?

The Government is held statutorily at a maximum fee of 10% imposed by 10 U.S.C. 2306(d) and regulated by FAR 15.404-4(c)(4)(i)(C). Offerors should note both the very conservative fiscal environment and historically competitive source selections when preparing their best proposals for the ESS contract.

15. Is it acceptable to apply escalation to labor each year?

Yes, the government may however provide a standard of escalation typical of this type of contract by a particular source (e.g. Global Insight) to use as a measure for purposes of evaluation. Regardless, any escalation rates employed by a company in their proposal should be accurate to their standard business practice and justify any significant deviations from the standard provided by the Government in a future solicitation. The Government understands this is highly individual to each company.

16. Will it be required to price the Subject Matter Expert (SME) in the cost proposals?

Yes. The SMEs are based upon NAVAIR’s Standard Labor Categories (NSLC). Rates will vary among individual SMEs and the NSLC does not provide sub categories.

17. Will SME descriptions be provided at the contract level or at the task order level?

The Government does not anticipate providing separate SME descriptions at this time.

18. What is the first task order?

The Government anticipates using a binding task order in the process of evaluating proposals. As a part of the Government’s solicitation a sample task order will be provided for interested parties to offer technical and cost proposals. The sample task order will become the first active task order under the awarded contract, after a determination of award is made and separate evaluation and negotiation of task order elements concludes. The Government has not determined at this time what requirements will comprise the first task order.

19. Is there any Special Access Programs or requirements which require sensitive compartmented information?

Yes.

20. Will there be any tasking in support of live fire testing?

Yes. Some of the work on ESS supports live fire testing events. These events often require coordination between the awardee, COR team, and PCO for approval of overtime.

21. What is the Government’s anticipated page count for proposals?

At this time the Government anticipates four volumes. Page counts as follows:

1) Offer Letter No more than 100

2) Technical Proposal No more than 100

3) Past Performance No more than 50

4) Cost/Price Proposal No more than 100

22. Will resumes be removed from page count in the technical volume?

Yes

Companies in Attendance (In no particular order)

DMC

Clancy JG International

INQU

Andromeda Systems

NDTI

Saalex AJA Inc.